Holder for frozen confections



Oct. A9, 1934. A. c. GRUNWALD HOLDER FOR FROZEN CONFECTIONS Filed Dec. 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 9, 1934 rum-riso .STATES -Afr ENT l' Y 1,976,610 HOLDER Fon FROZEN coNFEcTIoNs Albert C. Grunwald, 'River Forest, Ill.,A assigner to Precision Metal Workers, V Chicago, IIL-alcorporationof Illinois 7 Claims.

i invention relates to holders forfrozen confections and vparticularly frozen'confections which areprovided with sticks to'serve as handl'es.

Theinvention is particularly intended to cooperate'withlmol'ds having a plurality of pockets in lwhich the trozen confections are formed. Such molds fare normally provided with a large number' of Ipockets.arranged in longitudinal and trans- Lfm verserows. `Each frozen confection isprovided with astick to serve as a handle, which stick projects upwardly out of thel mold pocket.

'Thelfpresent holder is adapted to be` supplied to -such amold Aso as toreceivethe upper ends l5 of saidsticks. The'holder is provided with autornatic means-fforrgripping the 'sticks andmeans adapted to be actuated vto release the sticks. Consequently,ithe holder may be employed to engage the sticks, withdraw the confections from the 20 m'old 'pockets and hold the confections while being treated in subsequent operations, for example chocolate coating and nal chilling. When manufacture is complete, the gripping means may be actuated so 'asto'release the'handles and the ...25 confections with which they are associated.

'Gn'efof the objects `of 'the invention isstofprovide'an improved holder of this type.

`4A furtherv object of the invention is to provide gripping means' `which yare independently controlled sothat 'sticks of varying thicknesslrnay` be 3.40'- thereofftaken in conjunction with theac'coznfl panying drawings, lin which Figure l is-an inverted plan View? of the'complete holder, on a `reduced scale;

lF-ig. 2 is'an end elevation `thereoLpartl'y infsection, the 'section being taken'on the line `2 2 of Fig.l l,i shown in cooperativefengagementwith a mold containing confections; `which is 'shown in section; y

'Fig 3 is a sectional detail similarv to-'the'leftv handpa'rt of Fig. 2,' s'howingltheoperative 'parts in position for the removalof the handles and confections;

Fig. '4 is a-detail lpl'an' View, partlyin section taken on the line4-4-4of Fig. 2;

vFig. 5 is apers'pectivedetail :showing the-man'- ner -in which the guidefandf stopL elements, which receive -thevupper' ends of the 'sticks-arearanged;

Referring to' the drawings, the reference' meral 1 0v designates the Aholden and/the lrefe're'nc numeral 1l designates the mold having favl'a'r'g'e numberr of pockets .l2 in wh-ich'l fthe"v c'or'ife'ct'ior1s are formed. Thesepo'ck'etsarearranged'solas to depend from .thefbottom A13 'of a"dish"1ikeportidi 14 of 'the-mold which comprises-sides 'l5 v'provided with beaded upper'edges` 1'6. '"Thefpockets121rst upon transferr bars l''to'whch'they may beispete Vwelded or otherwise suitably connected@ q*I hefbars l'l'are rigidly secured vto railelements-lSlwhich are-adapted to engage rails v"1'9Jonfatable: 20f-s`o that nthe mold 'may-'be' slid V.along inflthefdsi'e'd direction.' l l l 'The "holderllo comprises a base portie Whi'chf'inay:'beA in' the lform 'of a lplatewhlch iis' somewhat smaller than the 'dish portin-flliftlie mold `soi that ,the holder -m'ay readily be {insertedtliereinto. "Iheplate'Zly is= provided Withmar'g'in# al .,upturned walls 222lwhich together #withtle plate 21 constitute afdishlik'eintegral element. :The lplate 21= is :providedwithJ 'openings "23 Acorresponding in? shape, l*number la'nd location :tof-the sticks B24 Vof fthe' confecti'ons"'25' formed-"infthe pockets 12 ofthe mold. In the ernbo'd'innntill-us`` trated therear'e fourl longitudinal `ro'ws'lof o'pe'nings "arranged in. six. transverse rows; lthere *being twentyfourl'pockets ini the mold 1'5 arranged-iin this 'orden' `.Thefopenings"23 are formedl-bystarnping.' tongues 2'6 out of the -plate21at `'the appropriate. locations. 'These tongues are turned :upa wardly,fas'shownin Figs.i2,-3a'nd 5. f -f On its underside. the `plate'21 has 4secured itl-1ere-h to, suitably by yspot-welding, pairs fof' anglefstriips 27, the strips'of 'each pairl bein'g' locatedadjacent each othertand' spaced apart a distanceffequal'to the i maximum thickness of :the f handlesl orf 'sticks 24. ,The angle strips' 2'7 `are bentl to jan-acute anglefand 'one of Teachfpair-fi's' located# with-*its angular edge in alignment -withwthe' inner'ffa'ees' of one longitudinal row of tongues 26.' 'The other strips ofeach lvpairfoverlie portions y"of theoper'iings 23, reducing the lwidth of these openings -to'-`ap' proximately that! of zthe thickest sticks 24.' The Y downwardly extending anges of -each `pair fof angle strips'27 diverge outwardly'fr'om `rtheepe'nings 2'3'associated1with them. v''Iloes'e-oiitvvardl'y diverg-ing/lan'ges serve as `guides which 'direct-the upper ends ofthe handles 24-into'itheappropriat open'ngs'23. y

Intheembo'diment of theinvention illustrated; the `openings'23 are longer'than the'5width of fthe sticks or handles 24,1 and eachopening'y has Lin"-1 serted therein a guide and stop element 28 of generally horseshoe form, the two ends being directed downwardly. Between the two legs of the element 28 there is an opening 29 of the same width as the stick 24 and the upper end of this opening is curved so as to correspond with the curved end of the stick. The lower ends of the leg ofthe stop element 28 are cut away on their innersides to provide curved surfaces 30 which serve to guide the sticks 24 into proper relation with the stop element 28, or, rather, they serve to aid in positioning the holder with relation to the sticks so as to bring the latter into alignment with the open-` ings 29.

Opposite each tongue 26 Iprovi'de a pivoted dog 31 which is adapted to grip a stick located'between the dog and the corresponding tongue 26. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the `dogs 31 comprise a relatively flat pointed portion 32 and a relatively c tions 33 of the dogs 31 are likewise located in two pairs of rows, the rows .of each pair' being quite close together. The portions 33 of the dogsv 3l which project through tothe underside of the plate 21 are provided with openings 35.` Each adjacent pair of downwardly projecting portions 33 is; associated with a spring 36 of a shape and configuration best shown in Figs. 1 and 4.r These springs are suitably pear-shaped, the major width thereof being such that they fit fairly snugly between the adjacent angular strips 27, extending into the apical portions of such strips so that they are effectively housed and prevented from coming into contact with projections which might dislodge them, by the downwardly directed flanges of said strips. A

The'fsprings 36 are preferablyr formed from pieces of Wire, the central portion of which is formed into a large round bend. The ends of the wire approach each other and approach a pair of downwardly directed lugs 33v of a pair of dogs31. y The extremities of the wire are turned inwardly towards each other, as best seen in Fig. 4, and Vproject through the openings 35 in the lugs 33. It will readily be seen with reference to Fig. 2, that; the tendency of the springs being to force thevlugs-33 towards each other, the dogs are biased in such a direction that their at por tions 32 tend to rest upon the plate 21.Y The outer ends of the-flat portions 32 of the dogs 31 are sharpened so that they bite into sticks or handles 24 Whichcmay be located between them and the tongues 26. It will readily be understood that when the sticks or handles 24 are'thus gripped they will be firmly held so that the holder may support a large number of frozen confections. To release the-frozen confections from the holder it;y is merely-necessary to elevate 'the dogs 31. Means for effecting this .result will hereinafter be more fullydescribed.Y f

As willgmore fully appear from the subsequent descriptionpf ythe operation of the holder, the

holder is directed downwardly upon a -set of f handles or sticks 24 projecting upwardly from the pockets 12 of the mold 11. The application of the holder to the sticks is facilitated by the converging webs 27 and sloping or curved extremities of the guide and stop element 28. This guide and stop element 28 is preferably fabricated from metal substantially thicker than the thickest stick or handle which may be used. In order to enhance the stopping effect of thermembers 28 it is preferred to displace a portion of the stock of which the element is made, away from the associated tongue 26. The stock displaced is preferably atvthe apex of the guide and stop-element 28, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 5, and forms an abutment 37. Y lIt will readily be understood that the tongue 26 prevents lateral escape of the stick 24 from the guide and stop element 28 on one side thereof andthe abutment 37 effectively prevents escape of the stickin the opposite direction. The abutment 37 is substantially narrower than the stick so that the stop member 28 serves as an abutment fo-r the upper end of the stick or handle 24, for a distance much greater than the thickness of the stock of which it is made.

Each dog 31 is provided at each side with an upwardly turned flange 38 of `substantially triangular form. Each flange 38 is provided with a relatively large opening 39 suitably of similar form. The flanges 38, like the dogs which carry them, are arranged in four longitudinal rows and longitudinal bars 40 extend through the aligned openings 39, there being four such bars. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the bars 40 are relatively small in comparison with the openings 39 so that they have a considerable' degree of free movement therein. It will readily be understood that by simply elevating the bars 40,`all the dogs 31 may be raised and the sticks 24 and frozen'confections with which they are associated, may thereby be released.

The holder can conveniently be carried by means of two bail-like handles 41 which are rigidly secured to the plate 21 and its associated rim. These bails are preferably located near the ends of the holder, as best seen in Fig. 1. A pair of lugs 42 are mounted on the sides of the bails 41 so as to project outwardly.; These lugs 42 may suitably serve as supports for the holder, whereby the holder may be moved on rails or the like for the convenient performance of such-"operations as are performed upon the frozenV confections, for example, coating with chocolate, hardening the chocolate coating, etc. The bails 41 serve as a mounting for the means for elevating the bars 40, which means will now be described.

A'pair of transverse bars 43 are secured together by means of rivets 44. The bars- 43 are maintained in spaced relation by theends of a bail-like handle 45 extending' therebetween. The handle 45 is secured to a pair of transverse elements 43 by means of certain of thefrivets 44. The ends of the elements 43 are Abent away from each other and then bent outwardly to provide extremities 46 which are adapted to embrace in sliding relation the vertical portions of a bailf41. It will be understood that a structure of the type just described is mounted on each bail 4l. Each rod 40 passes through openings in a pair oflinks 47, the upper ends of which links are located between one or other ofthe pairs. of transverse paratively small and effective structure for the purpose for which it is intended.

The operation of the device will in the main be understood from the foregoing description. As indicated above, the holder is applied to a mold so that the upper end of the sticks or handles 24 become engaged between the dogs 3l and tongues 26. This engagement may suitably be effected while the confections are still frozen hard to the mold pockets l2. The mold pockets l2 may then be immersed in water or heated in a suitable way so as to render the frozen confections capable of being withdrawn. When that point is reached the holder is elevated by the handles or bails 41 carrying all the frozen confections with it. As indicated above, the frozen confections may be moved from place to place, with the aid of the lugs 42 during the course of completing manufacture of the confections.

Owing to the action of the springs 36, the dogs 31 are held in handle-gripping position. Owing to the relatively large size of the openings 39 a considerable variation in stick thickness is permitted since no exceptional deflection of the dog 31 from its normal position will be communicated through the associated rod 40 to any other dog. After the manufacturing operation is completed it becomes necessary to remove the confections from the holder and this can readily be done by elevating the rods 40 by means of the handles 45. The motion of the handles 45 is communicated through the links 47 to the rods 40. The elevation of the rods 40 is such that the largest sticks which may enter the openings 23 are released in this way. The springs 36 have an advantageous eifect in that they oppose the entrance of the sticks 24 into the openings 23. This facilitates the application of the holder to a mold full of confections since it has a tendency to delay the entrance of any handle 24 or group of handles into the openings 23 until the holder is placed in proper registering position with all the handles.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

v aving thus described my invention, what I clam as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A holder for frozen confections provided with handles, comprising a plate having a plurality of openings adapted to receive said handles, inclined guide means on the underside of said plate adapted to assist registration of said handles with said openings, a dog associated with each opening adapted to engage a handle extending therethrough, said dogs having lugs extending downwardly through slots in said plate, and springs nested above said inclined guide means tending to move said dogs to gripping position.

2. A holder for frozen confections provided with handles, comprising a plate havng a plurality of openings adapted to receive said handles, said openings being arranged in rows, angle strips having an acute angle extending along said openings, dogs associated with said openings and having lugs extending through sad plate, said lugs being provided with openings, the lugs of a pair of rows being located close together, and springs on the underside of said plate nested within an adjacent pair of angle strips, the ends of each spring being received within the openings of an adjacent pair of lugs, thereby individually biasing the dogs towards gripping position.

3. In a confection holder of the type described, in combination, a plate having an opening for receiving a confection handle, a dog adapted to dog said handle above the plate, said dog having a downwardly directed lug provided with an opening and said plate being provided with an open-- ing permitting said lug to extend downwardly through the plate, and a spring mounted on the underside of said plate having a portion extending into the opening in said lug, thereby mounting the dog on the plate and biasing it towards handle engaging position.

4. In a confection holder of the type describedl in combination, a plate, a plurality of tongues struck up from said plate leaving aligned openings, angle strips having an acute angle secured to the underside of said plate reducing said openings nearly to the thickness of a confection handie, a horseshoe guide and stop element in each opening having its lower ends shaped to guide said handle thereinto, the apex of the guide and stop element being displaced away from the tongue to provide an abutment wider than the stock of said element, and a dog mounted on the plate adapted to secure a handle between it and said tongue.

5. In a confection holder of the type described. in combination, a plate, a plurality of tongues struck Vup from said plate leaving aligned openings, angle strips having an acute angle secured to the underside of said plate reducing said openings nearly to the thickness of a confection handle and a horseshoel guide and stop element in eachk opening having its lower ends shaped to guide said handle thereinto, the apex of the guide and stopelement being displaced away from the tongue to provide an abutment wider than the stock of said element.

6. A holder for confections provided with handles, comprising a plate provided witha plurality of openings arranged in rows, a dog pivotally mounted on said plate associated with each opening, said dogs being provided with upturned flanges having openings arranged in rows, a rod extending freely through each aligned row of openings, bars slidably mounted above said plate, and links freely connected to said rods and pivoted to said bars, the links of adjacent rods crossing each other and being pivoted to the bar at a point substantially behind the pivots of the associated dogs.

'7. A holder for confections provided with handles, comprising a plate provided with a plurality of openings arranged in rows, a dog pivotally mounted on said plate associated with each opening, said dogs being provided with upturned flanges having openings arranged in rows, a rod extending freely through each aligned row of openings, bail handles on said holder, bars slidably mounted on said bail handles above said plate, links freely connected to said rods and pivoted to said bars, the links of adjacent rods crossing each other and being pivoted to the bar at a point substantially behind the pivots of the associated dogs, and springs biasing each dog individually towards handle engaging position, the connections between the bars and the individual dogs providing sufficient lost motion to enable handles of varying thickness to be gripped effectively at the same time.

.ALBERT C. GRUNWALD. 

